Every Pokémon Card Back (And Where It Came From)

Experience the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), a world of nostalgia, strategy, and, of course, the thrill of the chase. The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), which was first released in 1996, has captivated viewers not only with its front-side graphics of colorful monsters and exciting gameplay components but also with its back-side designs, which are sometimes disregarded but play a crucial role in the game’s long history. Each card back narrates its own unique story and delicately marks the time and place of its birth, adding to the Pokémon phenomenon that has spread throughout the world. Flipping the card over to discover the fascinating development of Pokémon card back designs, we will journey outside the boundaries of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) battlefield in this article!

Table of Contents

Pokemon TCG Card Back – A list of the official cards and their history

1996

Japanese old-backs “Pocket Monsters”

The very first design utilized when the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) was released in Japan was the original Pokémon card dating back to 1996, also known as the “Japanese old-back.” The phrase “Pocket Monsters Card Game” written in English was included by the internal design team of Media Factory (now known as Kadokawa Future Publishing), reflecting the original name of the Pokémon franchise (which is “Pocket Monsters” in Japanese), for branding reasons.

Original 1996 “Pocket Monsters” – Holofoil Edition

In 1998, Media Factory ran a unique promotion that asked collectors to mail in two of their Pokémon cards in exchange for receiving two promotional cards. The Pokemon card Trade Please!, which took its name from the advertising campaign, was notable for having one of only two holofoils on the back of any Pokémon card.

Pokemon Japanese Vending Series

These sets, which were only offered for sale through vending machines in Japan, were released between 1998 and 1999. There was a total of three series, each of which featured a unique collection of cards. The cards, which came in a little plastic bag with some gum and a short insert (typically containing information on Pokémon or a minigame or puzzle), were randomly distributed from vending machines. Bill’s PC Pass card, which had a special Pokemon card back version and was utilized for the Evolution Communication “Masaki” Campaign, was one of the special cards in the third series.

2002 New Japanese Pokemon Card Back

With the launch of the e-Card series in 2022, beginning with the Base Expansion Pack, also known as the Expedition Base Set in North America, the card back design for the Japanese Pokémon Trading Card Game changed. The revised design brought about a number of discernible modifications, including:

This is a change from the previous Japanese and English designs in that the button is now affixed to the top of the Poké Ball.
The card’s bottom was trimmed of any copyright information.
The phrase “Pocket Monsters Card Game” was replaced with the word “Pokémon” in the logo.
The most current redesign for Japanese television sets is still in use today.

English Pokemon Card Backs

Original 1999 “Pokemon”

This is the first Pokemon card back, which Wizards of the Coast published in 1999. This Pokemon card back has never been altered since it was first included in the original Base Set, not even for small upgrades or tweaks. It is the most identifiable card back in the world of trading cards because the design hasn’t changed much over the past few decades.

Trainer Deck A & B

The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) was first introduced in 1999, and two unique sets called Trainer Deck A and Trainer Deck B contained only cards with this particular style. These decks were generally employed by novice players who were just beginning to play the TCG as teaching aids. A balanced gameplay experience was provided, making it simpler for newcomers to pick up the game’s rules and tactics.

Trainer Deck B concentrated on the Pokémon Machamp, while Trainer Deck A had a Blastoise theme. Both decks are highly prized and valuable by collectors.

Ancient Mew (Movie Promo)

As part of a marketing campaign for the second Pokémon film, “Pokémon: The Movie 2000” (known in Japan as “Revelation Lugia”), the Ancient Mew Pokémon card was first made available in Japan in July 1999 and then subsequently in North America in the year 2000.

Even though this card has fantastic artwork, it was sadly not allowed to be used in tournaments when it first came out due to its unusual card back design (and the fact that all of the text on the card was written in a faux-ancient script, making it challenging to understand its effects without a reference). However, Pokémon Company International amended its regulations to permit the use of Ancient Mew in tournament play as part of the 20th anniversary of the Pokemon Trading Card Game.

Metal Cards – Celebrations Ultra Premium Collection

Commemorative Pikachu and Charizard cards fashioned of solid metal, depicting these characters as they first appeared in the Pokemon Base Set, were first made available in the Pokemon Celebrations Ultra Premium Collection. The card back is the same as it was in 1999, however, it is made of metal now.

Pokemon World Championship Card Backs

Some of the top Pokémon TCG players from across the world congregate for the annual Pokémon World Championships. Players that participate in different competitions and events during the competitive season can gain invitations to the World Championships by earning Championship Points. These competitions can range in size from smaller regional and international championships to larger local tournaments.

Every World Championship held between 2004 and 2019 has a brand-new special card back to mark the occasion.

2004 World Championship

The first World Championship to ever have its own card back took held in Orlando, Florida, from August 20–22, 2004.